Been banned from my local nail salon

[alittlebittiredallthetime]

I started going to a new salon a few months ago. I went three times and to be honest, I was never totally happy with the service I had been receiving. The atmosphere wasn't as welcoming as I liked and the results weren't what I was happy to pay for. So I decided to just do my own from now on.

My mum goes to the same nail salon, and the owner asked her why I had cancelled my appointments. Because she was put on the spot, my mum told her that I was now working Saturdays as well, so couldn't go anymore.

Yesterday I was getting my hair done and the owner of this old salon walked in and sat down next to me. She clocked it was me, sort of looked me up and down in surprise, and turned away from me. It was a bit awkward but it's not the end of the world, in my view.

This morning I've woken up to this email from them:

"(My name),
This message serves as formal notice that you are prohibited from booking or receiving services at any of our nail salons across the (local) area, effective immediately.
This decision has been made at ownership level following a review of your conduct. We have concluded that you provided false and misleading information regarding your availability and intentions as a client. On that basis, we believe your actions amount to a misrepresentation of circumstances and may be considered fraudulent in nature.
As a business, we reserve the absolute right to refuse service where we believe honesty and trust have been compromised. This determination is final.
Any current or future appointments made under your name, or on your behalf, will be cancelled without notice. Do not contact the business regarding this matter.
(Owner’s name)"

AIBU or is this really not necessary? I'd understand if I was a long standing client who had been going for years, but I'd been three times. I don't really see what's fraudulent about it?!

“I confirm that I hereby cancel any and all future appointments that I do not have and do not intend to make”

that should do it.

Sniffing glue seems apt here!!!

She's batshit crazy. And your poor mum being put on the spot!

Can't believe posters are complaining about your mum's response. Typical mumsnet! 🙄

Open up a fake Facebook age in the salon name and then look at her Facebook customers and then message them all with the same message! 😈😂

NO obviously don’t do that but you can have a five minute day dream of doing so and picture her stupid face when some people don’t turn up for appointments believing they have been banned!

Great reply to send her

Just send back a laughing emoji. She’s batshit.

Owner sounds crazy.

Totally mental. There are plenty of other salons. Put a review on Google citing the abusive message.

It's weird for the business owner to discuss it with your mum and ask her for an explanation rather than contacting you to ask if you would like to rebook but your mum is weird too, all she had to say was she didn't know.

The salon owner is batshit. Ignore.

That’s fucking hilarious! It cracks me up that she’s tried to use “legal speak” and just comes across as an absolute tit.🤣🤣🤣

"Why has your daughter cancelled her bookings?"

"I've no idea, you'd have to ask her."

The woman is absolutely batshit mind 😅

Absolutely bonkers message from them. How weird. 🤣

I would definitely send the legal (ish) reply someone posted upthread - just to freak her out. Accusing someone of fraud because they’ve cancelled a nail appointment well within the time limit and then telling them they’re banned is just absolutely mental and she should be called out on it! You’ve done nothing wrong legally or even morally.

Then I’d tell my mum and everyone I know the story and all have a good laugh and then hopefully they won’t go there again! Your mum did nothing wrong, it’s no business of the salon why you cancelled your appointment.

posting on local Facebook an option too!

If you can afford it, I'd get a solicitor to write a letter demanding a retraction of the "fraud" allegation and an apology.

That's crazy!

Cancelling 3 appointments at the same time will have stood out to her, so it made good business sense to try to find out why.

However, her response was unhinged. Most business owners would have sent you a discount code/ special offer to try to lure you back, not ban you!

I would reply and just say ‘Thank you for accusing me of fraud. To clear up any confusion I cancelled because you did a shit job and I don’t really like complaining so thought I’d just go elsewhere. Thank you again for interrogating my Mother and making her feel uncomfortable, she lied as she was put on the spot. Have a lovely Christmas and perhaps ask Santa for an additional training course’

I agree. I am not usually one for FB or X , but she really deserves it for this.

I agree, she shouldn’t have had to mention it and the sensible thing for OP’s mum to have said would have simply been, ‘I don’t know.’ Lying might be less awkward in the short term but as shown just tends to make things worse in the long run. I understand not wanting to be truthful, but saying nothing is better than lying in that situation.

I'd write a google review and put her email in it!

Absolutely nuts. They won’t be in business for much longer if they keep doing this.

I'd play their game a little for mischief, and reply that I've consulted my solicitor and that they can expect a formal response in the new year (and of course not follow through).

lol I’d reply with ‘you’re so weird!’

I agree. I once left a 4.5 out of a max 5* review for a salon in London - eyebrow tint had worn off almost as soon as I got home from the salon. I don't know why I gave such a high rating. Should have been zero stars plus a demand to have them redone. Despite my extremely generous review, the owner called me the next morning, ranting and raving and threatening all sorts. I'd left off HALF A STAR from the maximum, when she should have received 0! But yes she got very nasty and tried to make me retract it (I didn't. And what's wrong with 4.5 / 5 especially if you've messed up??)

Some salon owners can be very weird and ridiculously protective about their place of business. It's like those parents who think you're looking at their kid and start threatening you

Maybe suggest to your mum that next time someone asks her about your decisions she can just say, "gosh, I have no idea! We talk about more interesting things than nail appointments."

I'd reply saying that I had no intention of going back as their services are shit, hence why you've already cancelled all appointments and won't be going back.

Completely batshit.

I'd be tempted to write to them saying you've received unsolicited correspondence, allegedly from them, accusing you of fraudulent behaviour. As you are no longer a client, this would appear to be a data breach; either they are holding, and using, your data with no good reason and making unsubstantiated allegations, or their data has been compromised and the matter will need to be reported to the appropriate authorities.

I can play bullshit bingo with the best of them!